Market Application Brief

09/24/2007 Rev 1
Market: Life Science
Segment: Analytical Sciences
Niche/Application: Flow Cytometry

Overview: Flow cytometers are used to measure, sort, and characterizes small particles, cells, and organisms

Flow cytometers measures the light scattered by each sample under test. As individual samples, cells for example, move
through the flow cytometer in a carrier fluid, a beam of light in the UV or visible spectrum is directed at the sample. The
detector then collects the light that is scattered by each sample and characterizes the fluorescent characteristics of each
sample. In order to accurately collect this data it is important that the carrier fluid exhibits laminar flow and does not exhibit
turbulence created by drag at the boundary. This is made possible by flowing the carrier fluid through a sheath fluid. The
sheath fluid prevents the drag at the boundary from causing turbulent flow in the sample under test.

In order to create laminar flow the flow rate of both the sheath fluid and the samples is critical. The flow of each is
controlled through pneumatics. The fluid flow rate is controlled by pressurizing air around the volume in which the fluid is
contained forcing the fluid to flow at a constant rate. It is important in this application to keep the pressure in the air
chamber constant as the volume of liquid decreases. This is where the VSO-EP or the OEM-EP can be used to accurately
control the pressure in this volume. For applications where multiple tubing sizes will be used the flow cytometer my need
more than one VSO-EP. A low pressure (0-2psi) for controlling applications with larger tubing and a higher pressure unit
(0-15psi) for controlling the applications with smaller tubing since the same flow rate is needed in both configurations.

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Market Application Brief
09/24/2007 Rev 1

Major OEM’s: Becton Dickinson, Beckman Coulter, Icyt Visionary Biosciences, DakoCytomation

Common Parker Components or System: VSO-EP SC and OEM-EP SC

Secondary Pneutronics Component or System: X valve (typically used for control of shutters on Optical assemblies or
shutter control on lasers. Also uses for secondary pneumatic control such as miniature cylinders, drying, etc.)

Parker Technical/Product Differentiation: It is the only product with the necessary low pressure resolution

Key Competitors & Product: Proportion Air, FAS

Links to Additional Information:

http://www.cyto.purdue.edu

Theory: http://biology.berkeley.edu/crl/flow_cytometry_basic.html